CN115552792A - Fan control system, fan system, active ingredient generation system, fan control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

The fan control system according to the present disclosure includes a control unit that selects a control mode from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a control mode in which an electric signal is supplied to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a first rotation speed. The second mode is a control mode in which an electric signal is supplied to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a second rotational speed, which is lower than the first rotational speed. The control unit has a function of selecting the second mode after the fan motor is started and before the first mode is selected.

Description

Fan control system, fan system, active ingredient generation system, fan control method and the program

technical field

The present disclosure generally relates to a fan control system, a fan system, an active ingredient generation system, a fan control method, and a program. In more detail, the present disclosure relates to a fan control system, a fan system, an active ingredient generation system, a fan control method, and a program that control a fan motor having an impregnated bearing impregnated with a lubricant.

Background technique

Patent Document 1 describes a fan motor (DC brushless motor fan) including an impregnated bearing (porous bearing) and a shaft inserted through the impregnated bearing and held rotatably by the impregnated bearing. The fan motor further includes a rotor fixed to a shaft and having permanent magnets and blades (fins). In this fan motor, the impregnated bearing is formed by sintering metal powder, and has voids (voids) for impregnating (impregnating) a lubricant (lubricating oil).

In this fan motor, the lubricant impregnated in the impregnated bearing realizes the lubrication between the impregnated bearing and the shaft.

prior art literature

patent documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2013-63009

Contents of the invention

In the fan motor as described above, if the amount of lubricant impregnated in the impregnated bearing is less than an appropriate amount, there may be problems such as abnormal noise due to shrinkage of the lubricant in a special environment such as a low temperature environment.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above reasons, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a fan control system, a fan system, an active ingredient generation system, a fan control method, and a program that hardly cause problems such as abnormal sound even in a special environment.

A fan control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a fan control system that controls a fan motor. The fan motor has a rotor including blades, a stator, and an impregnated bearing impregnated with a lubricant, and the rotor is rotatably held by the impregnated bearing. The fan control system includes a control unit that selects a control mode from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a first rotational speed. The second mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. The control unit has a function of selecting the second mode after starting the fan motor and before selecting the first mode.

A fan system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes the fan control system and the fan motor.

An active ingredient generating system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes the fan system and a discharge unit that generates an active ingredient. The fan motor generates an air flow for expelling the active ingredient.

A fan control method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a fan control method for controlling a fan motor, and a control mode can be selected from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode. The fan motor has a rotor including blades, a stator, and an impregnated bearing impregnated with a lubricant, and the rotor is rotatably held by the impregnated bearing. The first mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a first rotational speed. The second mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. The fan control method includes a process of selecting the second mode after starting the fan motor and before selecting the first mode.

A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the fan control method.

According to the present disclosure, there is an advantage that problems such as abnormal noise hardly occur even under special circumstances.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an active ingredient generation system including a fan control system according to Embodiment 1. FIG.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fan motor controlled by the above-mentioned fan control system.

FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the impregnated bearing of the fan motor described above.

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of a section of the impregnated bearing of the fan motor described above.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing electrical signals supplied from the above-described fan control system to a fan motor.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the above-mentioned active ingredient production system.

Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the above-mentioned active ingredient generating system viewed from another direction.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the above active ingredient generating system.

Fig. 6A is an exploded perspective view showing the casing and internal components of the above-mentioned active ingredient generating system.

FIG. 6B is an enlarged schematic perspective view of a region Z1 in FIG. 6A .

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above-mentioned fan control system.

8A is a graph showing electrical signals supplied from the fan control system according to the modification of Embodiment 1 to the fan motor.

8B is a graph showing electrical signals supplied from the fan control system according to the modification of Embodiment 1 to the fan motor.

9 is a graph showing electrical signals supplied from the fan control system according to Embodiment 2 to the fan motor.

10 is a graph showing electrical signals supplied to a fan motor from a fan control system according to a modified example of Embodiment 2. FIG.

detailed description

(Embodiment 1)

(1) Summary

Next, an outline of a fan control system 10 , a fan system 100 , and an active component generation system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 .

The active component generation system 1 according to this embodiment includes a discharge unit 21 , and the active component is generated by the discharge unit 21 . In this embodiment, discharge unit 21 has discharge electrode 211 (see FIG. 6B ) and counter electrode 212 (see FIG. 6B ), and discharge is generated by applying a voltage between discharge electrode 211 and counter electrode 212 . The "active ingredient" mentioned in this disclosure is a component generated by discharge in the discharge part 21, and refers to a charged fine particle liquid containing OH radicals, OH radicals, _O2 radicals, negative ions, positive ions, Ozone or nitrate ions, etc. These active ingredients are not limited to sterilization, deodorization, moisturizing, preservation or virus inactivation, but also become the basis for useful effects in various scenarios.

The active component generating system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a casing 3 (see FIG. 5 ) in addition to the internal component 2 (see FIG. 5 ) including the discharge unit 21 . The casing 3 constitutes the outer shell of the active ingredient generating system 1 , and by accommodating the internal components 2 in the casing 3 , the unitized active ingredient generating system 1 is constituted. The casing 3 is formed with a discharge port 31 (see FIG. 5 ) for discharging the active ingredient and an air supply port 32 (see FIG. 5 ) for introducing air into the casing 3 . Moreover, in this embodiment, the internal part 2 further includes the fan motor 22 (refer FIG. 5). The fan motor 22 functions as an air blower that generates an air flow (wind) flowing from the air supply port 32 toward the discharge port 31 . Accordingly, the air introduced into the casing 3 from the air supply port 32 is discharged to the outside of the casing 3 through the discharge port 31 . The active components generated by the discharge unit 21 are discharged from the discharge port 31 to the outside of the casing 3 along with the airflow generated by the fan motor 22 as the blower unit.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A , fan motor 22 has rotor 101 , stator 102 , and impregnated bearing 103 . The rotor 101 includes blades 104 . The impregnated bearing 103 is impregnated with a lubricant 105 (see FIGS. 2B and 2C ). As an example, the impregnated bearing 103 is formed by sintering metal powder, and has voids (voids) for impregnating the lubricant 105 . The fan motor 22 rotatably holds the rotor 101 via the impregnated bearing 103 . In this structure, the lubricant 105 impregnated in the impregnated bearing 103 achieves a lubricating effect between the impregnated bearing 103 and the rotor 101 .

The fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment is a system that controls the fan motor 22 having the above-mentioned impregnated bearing 103 as a control target. That is, the fan control system 10 includes a rotor 101 including blades 104, a stator 102, and an impregnated bearing 103 impregnated with a lubricant 105, and the fan control system 10 provides a fan motor in which the rotor 101 is rotatably held by the impregnated bearing 103. 22 for control. The fan control system 10 includes a control unit 11 that selects a control mode from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal (the first voltage V1 in the example of FIG. 3 ) to the fan motor 22 to operate the fan motor 22 at the first rotational speed. The second mode is a control mode in which an electric signal (second voltage V2 in the example of FIG. 3 ) is supplied to the fan motor 22 to operate the fan motor 22 at a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed. The control unit 11 has a function of selecting the second mode (hereinafter referred to as "idling function") during the period (period T2 in the example of FIG. 3 ) before the selection of the first mode after the fan motor 22 is activated.

According to this configuration, the second mode is selected by the idling function of the control unit 11 after the fan motor 22 is started and before the first mode is selected. Therefore, before the fan motor 22 operates at the first rotational speed, the fan motor 22 operates at the second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. Therefore, even in a special environment such as a low-temperature environment, the impregnated bearing 103 is heated while the fan motor 22 is operating at the second rotation speed, so that problems such as abnormal noise due to shrinkage of the lubricant 105 are less likely to occur.

In addition, the fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment constitutes a fan system 100 together with the fan motor 22 . In other words, the fan system 100 according to this embodiment includes the fan control system 10 and the fan motor 22 . The fan control system 10 controls the fan motor 22 by providing electrical signals to the fan motor 22 . That is, the fan motor 22 receives an electric signal from the fan control system 10 and operates.

In addition, the fan system 100 according to this embodiment constitutes the active component generation system 1 together with the discharge unit 21 that generates the active component. In other words, the active component generation system 1 according to this embodiment includes the fan system 100 and the discharge unit 21 . The discharge part 21 generates active ingredients. The fan motor 22 generates an air flow for expelling active ingredients. That is, in the active component generating system 1 , the active component generated by the discharge unit 21 can be efficiently discharged to the outside of the casing 3 along with the airflow generated by the fan motor 22 as the blower unit.

(2) Details

Next, details of the fan control system 10 , the fan system 100 , and the active component generation system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 .

(2.1) Definition

"Impregnation" as used in the present disclosure means, for example, that a liquid or gel fluid is immersed in an object having a porous structure or a fibrous structure having a large number of gaps (voids) so that the liquid or gel fluid is kept in the gaps of the object. The state of a gel-like fluid. That is, as an example, the impregnated bearing 103 used for impregnating the lubricant 105 is formed by sintering metal powder and has a porous structure having a large number of gaps for the impregnated lubricant 105 . The lubricant 105 can be held in a large number of gaps in the impregnated bearing 103 by impregnating the impregnated bearing 103 with a liquid or gel-like lubricant 105 . This state is referred to as a state in which the impregnated bearing 103 is impregnated with the lubricant 105 .

In addition, "gel-like" in the present disclosure refers to a state having properties between liquid and solid, and includes a state of a colloid (colloid) composed of two phases of a liquid phase and a solid phase. For example, an emulsion in which the dispersion medium is a liquid phase and a dispersoid is a liquid phase, a suspension in which a dispersion medium is a liquid phase and a dispersoid is a solid phase, etc. are called gels or sols. The state is included in "gel-like". In addition, a state where the dispersion medium is a solid phase and the dispersoid is a liquid phase is also included in the "gel state". That is, the lubricant 105 impregnated in the impregnated bearing 103 is a fluid which has a constant volume if the temperature and pressure are constant, and does not have a definite shape. In other words, the lubricant 105 impregnated in the impregnated bearing 103 is a fluid (fluid body) other than gas. The term "fluid" here includes both Newtonian fluids and non-Newtonian fluids. In this embodiment, as an example, the impregnated bearing 103 is impregnated with a liquid lubricant 105 made of lubricating oil (oil) such as synthetic oil or mineral oil.

The "electrical signal" in this disclosure refers to all signals that transmit information electrically, including not only signals that transmit information by changing (modulating) the amplitude, frequency, or phase of a carrier wave, but also signals that transmit information based on voltage or The size of the current to transmit information signals, etc. In addition, electric signals include both digital signals and analog signals. In this embodiment, as an example, the electric signal used by the fan control system 10 to control the fan motor 22 is a DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 . That is, the electric signal composed of the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 can transmit information by the magnitude of the voltage, and the fan motor 22 can be controlled by changing the magnitude of the voltage.

In addition, the term "integrated" in the present disclosure refers to a form that can physically handle a plurality of elements (parts) as a whole. That is, a plurality of elements are integrated means that a plurality of elements can be integrated into one and handled as one member. In this case, the plurality of elements may be integrally inseparable like an integrally formed product, or the plurality of separately produced elements may be mechanically coupled, for example, by riveting, bonding, welding, or screwing. As an example, an upstream block and a downstream block included in the air passage member 5 described later may be suitably integrated.

Next, as an example, three axes of X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis that are perpendicular to each other are set, especially the axis along the longitudinal direction of the housing 3 is referred to as the "X-axis", and the axis along the longitudinal direction of the housing 3 is The axis in the direction in which 3 is combined with the lid body 4 (see FIG. 4A ) is referred to as a "Z axis". The “Y-axis” is an axis perpendicular to any of these X-axis and Z-axis and along the short-side direction of the housing 3 . Furthermore, the direction in which the active ingredient is discharged from the discharge port 31 is defined as the positive direction of the X-axis, and the side of the casing 3 viewed from the cover 4 is defined as the positive direction of the Z-axis. In addition, the state viewed from the positive direction of the Z axis is also referred to as "plan view" below. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are all imaginary axes, and the arrows showing “X”, “Y”, and “Z” in the drawings are for illustration only, and do not accompany any real ones. In addition, these directions are not intended to limit the directions when the active ingredient generating system 1 is used.

Next, as an example, assume a case where the active ingredient generation system 1 is used for vehicles. That is to say, the active ingredient generating system 1 is used, for example, by being disposed inside a dashboard or the like, discharging the active ingredient into a duct of an on-vehicle air conditioner, and discharging the active ingredient into the vehicle through an air outlet of the air conditioner. .

(2.2) Overall structure

First, the overall configuration of the active ingredient production system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4A to 6B.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the active component generation system 1 according to this embodiment includes a fan system 100 and a discharge unit 21 that generates an active component. The fan system 100 includes a fan control system 10 and a fan motor 22 . The fan motor 22 included in the fan system 100 functions as an air blower that generates an air flow for discharging the active ingredient in the active ingredient generating system 1 .

Furthermore, as described above, the active component generating system 1 according to the present embodiment includes the casing 3 in addition to the internal component 2 including the discharge unit 21 . The case 3 is formed in a box shape having a discharge port 31 for discharging the active ingredient. In addition, the active component generating system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a cover body 4 , a buffer body 41 (see FIG. 5 ), and an air passage member 5 in addition to the internal component 2 and the casing 3 .

The cover 4 is engaged with the case 3 . The casing 3 has an opening 33 provided separately from the discharge port 31 (see FIG. 5 ). The cover 4 is joined to the case 3 so as to close the opening 33 in a state where the internal component 2 is accommodated therebetween. That is, the housing 3 is formed in a box shape in which one surface (one surface perpendicular to the Z-axis) is opened as the opening 33 . The cover body 4 closes the opening 33 by being engaged with the case 3 , and constitutes the outer shell of the active ingredient generating system 1 together with the case 3 . The internal component 2 is housed in the inner space of the case 3 surrounded by the case 3 and the cover 4 . As a result, the inner component 2 is covered by the cover body 4 so that the inner component 2 is not exposed from the opening 33 in a state assembled into the housing 3 through the opening 33 .

In this embodiment, the housing 3 has a bottom plate 35 , a peripheral wall 36 and a flange portion 37 . The peripheral wall 36 protrudes toward the negative direction of the Z-axis from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate 35 . Furthermore, the surface of the bottom plate 35 facing the negative direction of the Z axis, that is, the surface surrounded by the peripheral wall 36 becomes the bottom surface 310 of the case 3 (see FIG. 6A ). The flange portion 37 protrudes outward from the front end of the peripheral wall 36 . The case 3 is joined to the lid body 4 via the flange portion 37 .

In this embodiment, the casing 3 has a metal body 30 . The metal body 30 surrounds at least the discharge portion 21 in the inner part 2 . The metal body 30 has a seamless portion 301 at a corner between two adjacent surfaces facing in different directions.

The "seamless part" in the present disclosure refers to a corner portion between two adjacent surfaces facing in different directions that seamlessly connects two adjacent surfaces. In other words, the seamless portion 301 fills at least a part of the gap between the two adjacent surfaces at the corner portion, so that the two adjacent surfaces continue seamlessly. The seamless portion 301 may have a structure that narrows the gap so as to fill at least part of the gap between two adjacent surfaces, and includes both a structure that completely fills the gap and a structure that only partially fills the gap. That is, the seamless portion 301 may be configured to close at least a part of the gap between two adjacent surfaces at the corner of the metal body 30 so as to reduce the gap. Therefore, in the active ingredient generating system 1 according to the present embodiment, although the seamless portion 301 is provided, the corner portion between two adjacent surfaces facing in different directions in the metal body 30 may be Has tiny gaps or holes.

Here, the box-shaped casing 3 is formed by subjecting a metal plate to drawing (square tube drawing). In the casing 3 formed in this way, not only the corners between the bottom plate 35 and the peripheral wall 36 , but also the four corners of the peripheral wall 36 that are located at the four corners in plan view do not produce joints. In other words, in the present embodiment, at least the gap at the corner between two adjacent surfaces facing in different directions in the peripheral wall 36 is completely filled by the seamless portion 301 . Therefore, the peripheral wall 36 surrounding the bottom surface 310 of the housing 3 is formed of a single metal plate that is continuous without a joint in the circumferential direction of the bottom surface 310 .

According to the active component generating system 1 according to the present embodiment, at least the discharge part 21 is surrounded by the metal body 30 of the case 3 , so the metal body 30 functions as a shield against electromagnetic noise generated when the discharge part 21 discharges. Furthermore, the metal body 30 has a seamless structure having a seamless portion 301 at a corner between two adjacent surfaces facing in different directions. Electromagnetic noise leaking from the gap at the corner between two adjacent surfaces can be reduced by the seamless portion 301 .

In this embodiment, case 3 is formed of a conductive metal plate. Therefore, the entire casing 3 is a metal body 30 made of metal. In addition, the lid body 4 is also formed of a conductive metal plate in the same manner as the case 3 . Therefore, the entire cover body 4 is made of metal. Therefore, the internal component 2 is housed in a space surrounded by metal members (casing 3 and cover 4 ). The inner part 2 is fixed to the housing 3 within the housing 3 . The circuit board 230 of the internal component 2 is fixed to the fixing portion 61 with screws 71 and nuts 72 , whereby the internal component 2 is fixed to the bottom surface 310 of the case 3 . That is, the housing 3 has a fixing portion 61 for fixing the circuit board 230 to the bottom surface 310 of the housing 3 .

In addition, the casing 3 also has a support portion 62 . The support portion 62 has a function of supporting the circuit board 230 included in the internal component 2 . In the present embodiment, a pair of support portions 62 are provided on a pair of inner side surfaces facing each other in the Y-axis direction of the peripheral wall 36 . The pair of support portions 62 protrude in directions approaching each other from portions of the pair of inner surfaces facing each other.

In addition, the casing 3 further has a restricting portion 63 . The limiting portion 63 is located between the bottom surface 310 of the housing 3 and the circuit board 230 . The restricting portion 63 has a function of restricting the movement of the circuit board 230 in a direction approaching the bottom surface 310 . In the present embodiment, a pair of restricting portions 63 are provided on a pair of inner side surfaces facing each other in the Y-axis direction in the peripheral wall 36 . The pair of restricting portions 63 protrude in directions approaching each other from portions of the pair of inner surfaces facing each other.

The cover body 4 is formed in a rectangular shape with the X-axis direction as the long side direction and the Y-axis direction as the short side direction in a plan view (viewed from the positive direction of the Z-axis). The cover body 4 has a first closing piece 42 that closes a part of the discharge port 31 of the case 3 , and a second closing piece 43 that closes a part of the connector port 34 of the case 3 . The first blocking piece 42 and the second blocking piece 43 are respectively constituted by cut and raised portions (cut and bent portions) of the metal plate constituting the cover body 4 . In addition, the cover body 4 has ribs 44 extending in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction), and the cover body 4 is reinforced by the ribs 44 .

Here, the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the cover body 4 is larger than the dimension of the case 3 . Furthermore, in a state where the cover body 4 is joined to the case 3 , at least both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cover body 4 are exposed from the case 3 to the outside in plan view. In other words, the cover body 4 has a protruding portion 45 protruding outward from the outer peripheral edge of the case 3 in a plan view. The active ingredient generation system 1 is attached to an installation object by fixing the extension part 45 of the cover body 4 to an installation object (a vehicle in this embodiment), for example, with a screw.

The buffer body 41 is sandwiched between the cover body 4 and a part of the inner part 2 . That is, the internal component 2 and the shock absorber 41 are housed in the inner space of the case 3 surrounded by the case 3 and the cover 4 . In the present embodiment, the buffer body 41 is attached to the surface of the cover body 4 that faces the housing 3 .

In addition, in the present embodiment, the buffer body 41 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the fan motor 22 which is a part of the inner part 2 and the cover body 4 . That is, as described above, the internal unit 2 includes the fan motor 22 as an air blower generating an air flow for outputting the active ingredient from the discharge port 31 to the outside of the casing 3 . Furthermore, the buffer body 41 is in contact with at least the fan motor 22 .

Therefore, the fan motor 22 which is a part of the inner part 2 is not in direct contact with the cover body 4 , but the buffer body 41 is inserted between the fan motor 22 and the cover body 4 . The buffer body 41 has elasticity, and is made of, for example, a buffer material such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) foam. Therefore, in the state where the cover body 4 is engaged with the case 3, the buffer body 41 is compressed between the cover body 4 and the fan motor 22 which is a part of the inner part 2, and the inner part 2 is compressed by the elastic force of the buffer body 41. It is pressed toward the bottom surface 310 (see FIG. 6A ) side of the housing 3 . As a result, movement of the internal component 2 (particularly, the fan motor 22 ) in a direction away from the bottom surface 310 of the housing 3 , vibration of the internal component 2 (particularly, the fan motor 22 ), and the like are suppressed. In this embodiment, in particular, since the buffer body 41 is in contact with the fan motor 22 , which tends to generate mechanical vibration due to its movable portion, it is easy to suppress the mechanical vibration generated by the fan motor 22 .

The air passage member 5 is accommodated in the casing 3 . That is, the internal component 2 and the buffer body 41 are housed in the internal space of the case 3 surrounded by the case 3 and the cover body 4 , and the air passage member 5 is housed. In the present embodiment, the air passage member 5 is arranged between the inner member 2 and the cover 4 in a state of being fixed to the cover 4 . The air passage member 5 is used to form an air passage through which air flow (wind) passes between the air supply port 32 and the discharge port 31 of the casing 3 . That is, the air passage member 5 forms an air passage in the housing 3 by dividing the internal space of the housing 3 into a space through which air flows and a space other than the space.

Here, the fan motor 22 and the discharge unit 21 of the inner part 2 are arranged in the middle of the air passage formed by the air passage member 5 . The fan motor 22 generates an air flow (wind) that passes through the air passage and flows from the air supply port 32 toward the discharge port 31 . In the present embodiment, discharge unit 21 is arranged on the downstream side of fan motor 22 in the air passage, that is, between fan motor 22 and discharge port 31 .

Therefore, the air introduced into the casing 3 from the air supply port 32 moves in the casing 3 to the discharge port 31 through the air passage formed by the air passage member 5 , and is discharged from the discharge port 31 to the outside of the casing 3 . Then, the active components generated by the discharge unit 21 are discharged from the discharge port 31 to the outside of the housing 3 along with the air flow generated by the fan motor 22 . In other words, the fan motor 22 as a blower is arranged between the air supply port 32 and the discharge part 21 in the air passage, and the active components generated by the discharge part 21 are pushed out by the fan motor 22 and discharged to the outside of the housing 3 .

The air passage formed by the air passage member 5 includes an air supply air passage upstream of the fan motor 22 and an exhaust air passage downstream of the fan motor 22 . That is, the air supply air path connects the fan motor 22 and the air supply port 32 , and the exhaust air path connects the fan motor 22 and the discharge port 31 . The air passage member 5 controls the flow of air (containing the active ingredient) so that the active ingredient can be discharged to the outside of the housing 3 relatively efficiently. Here, the air passage member 5 has an upstream block and a downstream block integrally. The upstream block forms an air supply air passage on the upstream side when viewed from the fan motor 22 . The downstream block forms an exhaust air passage on the downstream side when viewed from the fan motor 22 . In this way, the air passage member 5 forms an air passage for passing air including an air supply air passage and an exhaust air passage in the casing 3 .

In addition, in this embodiment, the air passage member 5 is made of synthetic resin. That is, the air passage member 5 made of a resin molded product is fixed to the cover body 4 made of a metal plate. As shown in FIG. 5 , the air passage member 5 is fixed to the cover body 4 by, for example, thermal caulking or the like. That is, the air passage member 5 has a plurality (three here) of caulking portions 55 . By caulking the plurality of caulking portions 55 to a plurality of (here, three) caulking holes formed in the lid body 4 , the air passage member 5 is fixed to one surface side (the positive side of the Z-axis) of the lid body 4 . In addition, the air passage member 5 is integrally formed with a nozzle 51 for discharging air containing an active ingredient. That is, the active ingredient generating system 1 according to this embodiment includes the nozzle 51 , and the nozzle 51 is integrated with the air passage member 5 . The nozzle 51 is arranged in the discharge port 31 of the casing 3 , and the air to be discharged from the discharge port 31 to the outside of the casing 3 is discharged to the outside of the casing 3 through the nozzle 51 .

(2.3) Structure of internal components

Next, the configuration of the internal component 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 , 6A, and 6B.

In addition to discharge unit 21 and fan motor 22 , internal unit 2 includes fan control system 10 , drive circuit 23 , liquid supply unit 24 (see FIG. 6B ), and second temperature sensor 28 (see FIG. 6B ).

As shown in FIG. 6B , discharge unit 21 has discharge electrode 211 and counter electrode 212 . The discharge unit 21 further includes an electrically insulating synthetic resin holding block 213 . As described above, discharge unit 21 generates discharge by applying a voltage between discharge electrode 211 and counter electrode 212 .

The discharge electrode 211 is a columnar electrode extending along the X-axis. The discharge electrode 211 is a needle electrode in which at least the tip portion 211a in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is formed into a tapered shape. The "tapered shape" mentioned here is not limited to a shape with a sharp tip, but also includes a shape with a rounded tip. Particularly, in the example of Fig. 6B, the front end 211a of discharge electrode 211 is spherical, and the half (that is, the hemispherical part on the positive side of the X-axis) of the front end 211a near the discharge electrode 211 side forms a rounded front end. Thin shape. As an example, the discharge electrode 211 is made of a conductive metal material such as a titanium alloy (Ti alloy).

Counter electrode 212 is disposed so as to face tip portion 211 a of discharge electrode 211 . In the present embodiment, the counter electrode 212 is made of a metal plate, and is arranged at a position separated from the front end portion 211a of the discharge electrode 211 in the positive direction of the X-axis. A through-hole 212 a penetrating the metal plate in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) is formed in a part of the counter electrode 212 . The counter electrode 212 includes a plurality of (four as an example) protruding electrode portions 212b protruding from the peripheral edge of the through hole 212a toward the center of the through hole 212a. As an example, the counter electrode 212 is made of a conductive metal material such as a titanium alloy (Ti alloy).

The holding block 213 holds the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 . As an example, the holding block 213 is coupled to the opposing electrode 212 by thermal caulking or the like. Thus, the counter electrode 212 is held by the holding block 213 . When discharge electrode 211 and counter electrode 212 are held by holding block 213 , the center of through hole 212 a is located on the central axis of discharge electrode 211 when viewed from one side of the central axis of discharge electrode 211 .

The fan motor 22 functions as an air blower that generates an air flow for discharging active ingredients. As described above, the fan motor 22 has the rotor 101 and the stator 102 . The fan motor 22 receives an electric signal (DC voltage in this embodiment) from the fan control system 10 and operates to rotate the rotor 101 . When the rotor 101 of the fan motor 22 rotates, an airflow (wind) is generated as the blades 104 included in the rotor 101 rotate. In the present embodiment, as an example, the fan motor 22 is an axial fan that generates airflow along the rotation axis of the rotor 101 . The fan motor 22 is arranged such that the rotation axis of the rotor 101 is parallel to the X-axis. Therefore, the fan motor 22 generates an airflow flowing from the air supply port 32 along the X-axis toward the discharge port 31 , that is, an airflow flowing in the positive direction of the X-axis. The fan motor 22 will be described in detail in the column "(2.5) Structure of the fan motor".

The fan control system 10 controls a fan motor 22 . In the present embodiment, as an example, the fan control system 10 mainly includes a microcontroller including one or more processors and one or more memories. That is, the functions of the fan control system 10 are realized by the processor of the microcontroller executing the program recorded in the memory of the microcontroller. The program may be prerecorded in a memory, may be provided via an electrical communication line such as the Internet, or may be provided by being recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card. In addition, in the present embodiment, the fan control system 10 controls the fan motor 22 by applying a DC voltage as an electric signal to the fan motor 22 , and therefore includes a voltage conversion circuit 13 (see FIG. 1 ) for converting the DC voltage. The fan control system 10 will be described in detail in the column "(2.6) Configuration of the fan control system".

The drive circuit 23 includes various mounting components such as a circuit board 230 and a transformer 25 . Mounted components such as the transformer 25 are mounted on the circuit board 230 . In addition, in this embodiment, not only the mounting components (transformer 25 and the like) constituting the driving circuit 23 are directly or indirectly mounted on the circuit board 230, but also the fan control system 10, the discharge unit 21, the fan motor 22, and the liquid supply unit 24 are also mounted on the circuit board 230. It is directly or indirectly mounted on the circuit board 230 . In addition, a connector 27 for electrically connecting the drive circuit 23 to an external circuit is also mounted on the circuit board 230 . The installation mentioned here refers to the mechanical connection and electrical connection with the circuit board 230 . That is, the mounting components (transformer 25, etc.), the fan control system 10, the discharge unit 21, the fan motor 22, the liquid supply unit 24, and the connector 27 are mechanically connected to the circuit board 230 by, for example, soldering or connector connection. and electrical connections. In this embodiment, the mechanical connection between the fan motor 22 and the circuit board 230 is realized by snap-fit for hooking claws (hooks) provided on the fan motor 22 to the circuit board 230 .

The drive circuit 23 is a circuit that drives the discharge unit 21 . That is, the drive circuit 23 is a circuit that causes the discharge section 21 to discharge by applying an applied voltage between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 constituting the discharge section 21 . The "applied voltage" referred to in the present disclosure refers to a voltage applied between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 by the drive circuit 23 in order to generate a discharge.

Drive circuit 23 receives power supply from a power source, and generates a voltage (applied voltage) to be applied to discharge unit 21 . The "power supply" referred to here is a power supply for supplying operating power to the drive circuit 23 and the like, and is, for example, a power supply circuit that generates a DC voltage of about several volts to tens of volts. The drive circuit 23 boosts an input voltage from a power supply, for example, using a transformer 25, and outputs the boosted voltage as an applied voltage. That is, in the drive circuit 23 , a high voltage (applied voltage) for causing the discharge unit 21 to discharge is generated on the secondary side of the transformer 25 .

Here, the drive circuit 23 includes a reference potential point. The reference potential point is electrically connected to the metal body 30 . In this embodiment, the reference potential point is the ground in the drive circuit 23 . That is, the metal body 30 of the housing 3 is electrically connected to the ground which is the reference potential point of the drive circuit 23 , thereby realizing a frame ground.

Furthermore, the drive circuit 23 is electrically connected to the discharge part 21 (the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212). Specifically, the secondary-side terminal of the transformer 25 in the drive circuit 23 is electrically connected to the discharge unit 21 through a harness 26 . In this embodiment, the drive circuit 23 applies a high voltage between the discharge electrode 211 and the opposite electrode 212 using the discharge electrode 211 as a negative electrode (ground) and the opposite electrode 212 as a positive electrode. Therefore, the secondary-side terminal of the transformer 25 is connected to the counter electrode 212 in the discharge unit 21 , and is connected to the discharge electrode 211 as a reference potential point set in the circuit board 230 . Thus, the drive circuit 23 applies a high voltage with the discharge electrode 211 on the low potential side and the counter electrode 212 on the high potential side, to the discharge portion 21 . Here, the "high voltage" may be set to a voltage at which full-path breakdown discharge or partial breakdown discharge to be described later occurs in discharge unit 21 , and is, for example, a voltage with a peak value of about 6.0 kV. The whole path breakdown discharge and the partial breakdown discharge will be described in detail in the column of "(2.4) Operation of active component generation system".

Liquid supply unit 24 supplies liquid to discharge electrode 211 . In the active ingredient generation system 1 , the liquid is electrostatically atomized by the discharge generated by the discharge unit 21 . That is, for example, in the state where the liquid is held in the discharge electrode 211 by attaching the liquid supplied from the liquid supply part 24 to the surface of the discharge electrode 211, an applied voltage is applied to the discharge part 21, whereby the discharge part 21 generates a discharge. . In this configuration, the liquid held by the discharge electrode 211 is electrostatically atomized by discharge using the energy of the discharge generated by the discharge unit 21 . In the present disclosure, the liquid held by the discharge electrode 211 , that is, the liquid to be electrostatically atomized is also simply referred to as “liquid”.

The liquid supply unit 24 supplies liquid for electrostatic atomization to the discharge electrode 211 . As an example, the liquid supply unit 24 includes a Peltier element, and the discharge electrode 211 is cooled by the Peltier element to generate dew condensation water on the discharge electrode 211, thereby supplying the liquid. In this liquid supply unit 24 , the discharge electrode 211 thermally coupled to the Peltier element is cooled by energization from the drive circuit 23 to the Peltier element. At this time, the moisture in the air condenses and adheres to the surface of the discharge electrode 211 as condensation water. That is, liquid supply unit 24 cools discharge electrode 211 to generate dew condensation water as liquid on the surface of discharge electrode 211 . In this configuration, since the liquid supply unit 24 can supply the liquid (condensation water) to the discharge electrode 211 using moisture in the air, supply and replenishment of the liquid to the active component generation system 1 are unnecessary.

In addition, the second temperature sensor 28 directly or indirectly detects the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 . The second temperature sensor 28 is formed of, for example, a thermistor. The active ingredient generation system 1 outputs the detection result of the second temperature sensor 28 to the fan control system 10 . As shown in FIG. 6B , the second temperature sensor 28 is mounted on the circuit board 230 together with the discharge unit 21 and the like, and detects the temperature of the circuit board 230 or the temperature of the inner space of the housing 3 to directly detect the surroundings of the fan motor 22. temperature.

(2.4) Operation of active ingredient production system

The active component generating system 1 having the above-described configuration causes the discharge unit 21 (the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 ) to discharge when the drive circuit 23 operates as follows.

That is, the operation modes of the drive circuit 23 include two modes, the discharge mode and the cut-off mode. The discharge mode is a mode for generating a discharge current by increasing the applied voltage over time and developing a corona discharge to form a discharge path at least partially insulated between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 . The cutoff mode is a mode for putting the discharge unit 21 into an overcurrent state to cut off the discharge current. The "discharge current" in the present disclosure refers to a relatively large current flowing through a discharge path, and does not include a minute current of about several μA generated in corona discharge before the discharge path is formed. The “overcurrent state” referred to in the present disclosure refers to a state in which a current exceeding an assumed value flows through the discharge unit 21 due to a load reduction due to discharge.

In the present embodiment, during the drive period, the drive circuit 23 operates so as to alternately repeat the discharge mode and the cut-off mode. Here, the drive circuit 23 switches between the discharge mode and the cut-off mode at the drive frequency so that the magnitude of the voltage applied to the discharge unit 21 is periodically varied at the drive frequency. The “drive period” referred to in the present disclosure is a period in which the drive circuit 23 operates to cause the discharge unit 21 to discharge.

That is, the drive circuit 23 does not keep the magnitude of the voltage applied to the discharge portion 21 including the discharge electrode 211 constant, but periodically changes the magnitude of the voltage at a drive frequency within a predetermined range. The drive circuit 23 intermittently generates discharge by varying the magnitude of the applied voltage periodically. That is, a discharge path is periodically formed in accordance with the fluctuation period of the applied voltage, and discharge is periodically generated. Hereinafter, a period in which discharge (full path breakdown discharge or partial breakdown discharge) occurs is also referred to as a "discharge period".

Through the above operation, the magnitude of electric energy acting on the liquid held by the discharge electrode 211 is periodically changed at the drive frequency, and as a result, the liquid held by the discharge electrode 211 is mechanically vibrated at the drive frequency.

In short, when a voltage is applied from drive circuit 23 to discharge portion 21 including discharge electrode 211 , a force generated by an electric field acts on the liquid held by discharge electrode 211 to deform the liquid. In particular, in the present embodiment, since a voltage is applied between the opposing electrode 212 facing the distal end portion 211a of the discharge electrode 211 and the discharge electrode 211, a force in a direction extending toward the opposing electrode 212 by the electric field acts on the discharge electrode 211. liquid. As a result, the liquid held by the tip portion 211a of the discharge electrode 211 receives the force generated by the electric field, and spreads toward the opposite electrode 212 along the central axis of the discharge electrode 211 (that is, along the X-axis), forming a so-called Conical shape of Taylor cone. When the voltage applied to the discharge part 21 decreases, the force acting on the liquid due to the influence of the electric field also decreases, and the liquid deforms from the state of the Taylor cone. As a result, the liquid held at the tip portion 211a of the discharge electrode 211 shrinks.

Then, the magnitude of the voltage applied to the discharge part 21 is periodically changed at the drive frequency, whereby the liquid held by the discharge electrode 211 expands and contracts along the central axis of the discharge electrode 211 (ie, along the X-axis). In particular, since an electric field concentrates on the tip (apex) of the Taylor cone to generate a discharge, dielectric breakdown occurs in a state where the tip of the Taylor cone is sharp. Therefore, discharge (full path breakdown discharge or partial breakdown discharge) is intermittently generated in accordance with the driving frequency.

That is, when the liquid held by the discharge electrode 211 receives the force of the electric field to form a Taylor cone, for example, the electric field tends to concentrate between the tip (apex) of the Taylor cone and the counter electrode 212 . Therefore, a relatively high-energy discharge is generated between the liquid and the counter electrode 212, and the corona discharge generated in the liquid held by the discharge electrode 211 can be developed to a higher-energy discharge. As a result, it is possible to intermittently form a discharge path in which at least a part of the insulation breaks down between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 .

Thus, the liquid held by the discharge electrode 211 is electrostatically atomized by discharge. As a result, in the active ingredient generation system 1 , a nano-sized charged fine particle liquid containing OH radicals is generated. That is, charged fine particle water is generated by the discharge part 21 as an active ingredient. The generated charged fine particle liquid is discharged out of the casing 3 through the discharge port 31 .

Next, full path breakdown discharge and partial breakdown discharge as discharge methods will be described.

The all-path breakdown discharge is a discharge mode generated by the breakdown of all the paths between a pair of electrodes (the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 ) developed from the corona discharge. That is, in all path breakdown discharge, a discharge path in which the entire insulation breakdown occurs between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 .

"Insulation breakdown" as used in the present disclosure refers to electrical insulation breakdown of an insulator (including gas) for isolating conductors and failure to maintain an insulating state. Insulation breakdown of gas is, for example, caused by the ionization of ionizable molecules colliding with other gas molecules after being accelerated by an electric field, and the sharp increase of ion concentration, which causes gas discharge.

On the other hand, the partial breakdown discharge is a discharge method in which a discharge path of partial insulation breakdown is formed between a pair of electrodes (discharge electrode 211 and counter electrode 212 ) developed from corona discharge. That is, in the partial breakdown discharge, a discharge path of partial insulation breakdown occurs between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 . That is, in the partial breakdown discharge, between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 , a discharge path of insulation breakdown is not formed entirely but locally (partially). As described above, in the partial breakdown discharge, the discharge path formed between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 is a path in which insulation breakdown occurs locally but does not result in breakdown of the entire path.

However, in this embodiment, regardless of the discharge method of the full path breakdown discharge or the partial breakdown discharge, the gap between the pair of electrodes (discharge electrode 211 and counter electrode 212) does not continuously occur. Insulation breakdown, but intermittent insulation breakdown. Therefore, a discharge current generated between a pair of electrodes (the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 ) is also intermittently generated.

That is, when the power supply (drive circuit 23) does not have the current capacity required to maintain the discharge path, etc., the voltage applied between the pair of electrodes decreases immediately after the corona discharge progresses to insulation breakdown, and the discharge path is interrupted. And the discharge stops. The "current capacity" mentioned here is the capacity of current that can be discharged per unit time. By repeating the occurrence and cessation of such a discharge, the discharge current flows intermittently. As such, the discharge method in the active ingredient generation system 1 according to this embodiment is the same as continuously generating insulation breakdown (that is, continuously generating a discharge current) in terms of repeating a state with high discharge energy and a state with low discharge energy. The glow discharge and arc discharge are different.

In addition, in all-path breakdown discharge or partial breakdown discharge, compared with corona discharge, active components such as free radicals are generated with greater energy, and a large amount of gas is generated about 2 to 10 times compared with corona discharge. Active ingredients. The active ingredients produced in this way are not limited to sterilization, deodorization, moisturizing, freshness preservation, and virus inactivation, but also serve as the basis for exerting useful effects in various scenarios.

In addition, in the partial breakdown discharge, the disappearance of active components due to excessive energy can be suppressed compared with the full-path breakdown discharge, and the generation efficiency of active components can be achieved compared with the full-path breakdown discharge. improvement. That is, in all-path breakdown discharge, the energy involved in the discharge is too high, so a part of the generated active components disappears, which may lead to a decrease in the generation efficiency of the active components. In contrast, in the partial breakdown discharge, the energy involved in the discharge is suppressed to be smaller than that of the whole path breakdown discharge, so it is possible to reduce the amount of disappearance of active components caused by exposure to excessive energy, thereby achieving Improvement of production efficiency of active ingredients.

In addition, in the partial breakdown discharge, the concentration of the electric field is relaxed compared with the whole path breakdown discharge. That is, in the all-path breakdown discharge, a large discharge current flows instantaneously between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 through the discharge path of the all-path breakdown, and the resistance at this time becomes very small. On the other hand, in the partial breakdown discharge, the concentration of the electric field is alleviated, and thus the maximum value of the current that flows instantaneously between the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 when a discharge path of partial insulation breakdown is formed is is suppressed to be smaller than the breakdown discharge of all paths. Thereby, in the partial breakdown discharge, the generation of nitrogen oxides (NOx) is suppressed, and the generation of electromagnetic noise is also suppressed, compared with the whole path breakdown discharge.

(2.5) Structure of fan motor

Next, the configuration of the fan motor 22 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2C .

As shown in FIG. 1 , the fan motor 22 includes a driver 227 and a coil 222 . The driver 227 receives an electrical signal from the fan control system 10 to drive the coil 222 . The coil 222 is driven by a driver 227 to provide a rotational force to the rotor 101 to rotate the rotor 101 .

In the present embodiment, the fan motor 22 is mainly composed of a DC (direct current) brushless motor that operates when a DC voltage is applied. The fan motor 22 mainly composed of a DC brushless motor drives the coil 222 included in the stator 102 according to the magnitude of the input (applied) DC voltage, thereby rotating the rotor 101 including the permanent magnet 226 (see FIG. 2A ). . That is, the fan motor 22 changes the magnetic field generated by the coil 222 of the stator 102 to provide a rotational force to the permanent magnet 226 of the rotor 101 to rotate the rotor 101 . Therefore, in this embodiment, driver 227 includes, for example, a semiconductor element, etc., and controls the current flowing through coil 222 according to a DC voltage input as an electric signal from fan control system 10 , thereby changing the magnetic field generated by coil 222 .

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the fan motor 22 operates at a rotational speed and a torque proportional to the magnitude of the input (applied) DC voltage. That is, when the DC voltage as an electrical signal applied from the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 increases, the driver 227 drives the coil 222 so that the rotation speed of the fan motor 22 increases in proportion to the increase in the DC voltage. Conversely, when the DC voltage applied as an electrical signal from the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 decreases, the driver 227 drives the coil 222 so that the rotation speed of the fan motor 22 decreases in proportion to the decrease in the DC voltage.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of the fan motor 22 . That is, the fan motor 22 has a rotor 101 , a stator 102 , and an impregnated bearing 103 . In this embodiment, the fan motor 22 also has a driver 227 . Here, the stator 102 includes a coil 222 , a case 223 , and a cylindrical portion 224 . The rotor 101 includes blades 104 , a shaft 225 and permanent magnets 226 .

The casing 223 is formed in a box shape and constitutes the outer shape of the fan motor 22 . In this embodiment, as an example, the casing 223 is made of synthetic resin, and is molded integrally with the cylindrical part 224 . The cylindrical portion 224 protrudes from the central portion of the bottom surface of the casing 223 . The rotor 101 including the blades 104 , the impregnated bearing 103 , the driver 227 , the coil 222 , and the like are housed inside the casing 223 .

The cylindrical portion 224 holds the impregnated bearing 103 inside the housing 223 . The cylindrical part 224 holds the dipped bearing 103 by accommodating the dipped bearing 103 inside. Inside the cylindrical portion 224 , in addition to the impregnated bearing 103 , a nonwoven fabric impregnated with the lubricant 105 is accommodated. That is, the lubricant 105 is impregnated not only in the impregnated bearing 103 but also in the nonwoven fabric. Therefore, by impregnating the impregnated bearing 103 with the lubricant 105 impregnated in the nonwoven fabric, the lubricant 105 in the impregnated bearing 103 is less likely to be depleted even without supplying the lubricant 105 into the cylindrical portion 224 . However, the non-woven fabric is not essential for the fan motor 22 , for example, the non-woven fabric may be omitted, and there is a space around the impregnated bearing 103 to store the lubricant 105 .

The coil 222 is formed in an annular shape and arranged around the cylindrical portion 224 . Furthermore, the permanent magnet 226 of the rotor 101 is arranged around the coil 222 . That is, the coil 222 is arranged at a position surrounded by the permanent magnet 226 of the rotor 101 . The coil 222 is a part of the stator 102 , and thus is fixed so as not to move relative to the housing 223 .

The dipped bearing 103 is a cylindrical member, and is held by the cylindrical portion 224 in a state of being inserted into the cylindrical portion 224 . The shaft 225 of the rotor 101 is inserted into the impregnated bearing 103 . Thus, the impregnated bearing 103 rotatably supports the shaft 225 of the rotor 101 . In other words, the stator 102 rotatably supports the rotor 101 via the impregnated bearing 103 via the cylindrical portion 224 . Here, the rotor 101 rotates around the center axis of the shaft 225 as a rotation axis. That is, the rotation axis of the rotor 101 coincides with the central axis of the shaft 225 .

The blades 104 are mechanically coupled to the front end of the shaft 225 . Thus, the blades 104 are rotated by rotating the rotor 101 about the rotation axis of the rotor 101 (the central axis of the shaft 225 ). In the present embodiment, since the fan motor 22 is an axial fan, the blades 104 are rotated to generate an air flow along the rotation axis of the rotor 101 (the central axis of the shaft 225 ).

The permanent magnet 226 is mechanically coupled to the front end of the shaft 225 together with the blade 104 . The permanent magnet 226 is arranged at a position surrounded by the blade 104 . The permanent magnet 226 is arranged around the coil 222 so as to face the coil 222 with a certain gap therebetween. Therefore, the rotor 101 receives a rotational force corresponding to a change in the magnetic field generated by the coil 222 via the permanent magnet 226 and rotates around the rotation axis of the rotor 101 (the central axis of the shaft 225 ).

In addition, in the present embodiment, the fan motor 22 further includes a first temperature sensor 221 (see FIG. 1 ). The first temperature sensor 221 directly or indirectly detects the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 . The first temperature sensor 221 is formed of, for example, a thermistor. The fan motor 22 outputs the detection result of the first temperature sensor 221 to the fan control system 10 . The first temperature sensor 221 indirectly detects the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 by, for example, detecting the temperature of the shaft 225 or the temperature of the inner space of the cylindrical portion 224 .

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C , the impregnated bearing 103 is impregnated with a lubricant 105 . FIGS. 2B and 2C are schematic cross-sectional views schematically showing main parts near the cross-section of the impregnated bearing 103 . In this embodiment, as an example, the impregnated bearing 103 is molded by sintering metal powder, and can be impregnated with the lubricant 105 . That is, the impregnated bearing 103 has a porous structure having a large number of gaps (voids) realized by a sintered body of metal powder, and is used in a state where the lubricant 105 is impregnated into the large gaps. The impregnated bearing 103 basically sucks the lubricant 105 into a large number of gaps by using capillary phenomenon, and maintains the state where the lubricant 105 is held in a large number of gaps. In this embodiment, as an example, the lubricant 105 is made of lubricating oil (oil) such as synthetic oil or mineral oil. Therefore, the impregnated bearing 103 is impregnated (impregnated) with oil as the lubricant 105, and is also called an "oil impregnated bearing".

According to impregnated bearing 103 having such a structure, when rotor 101 rotates, shaft 225 rotates, thereby generating a pumping action, and lubricant 105 impregnated in impregnated bearing 103 oozes out to the surface of impregnated bearing 103 . Also, the lubricant 105 generally has a positive coefficient of thermal expansion, so even if the lubricant 105 expands due to frictional heat generated by friction between the shaft 225 and the impregnated bearing 103, the lubricant 105 impregnated in the impregnated bearing 103 seeps into the The surface of the bearing 103 is impregnated. In this way, since the lubricant 105 impregnated in the impregnated bearing 103 seeps to the surface of the impregnated bearing 103, as shown in FIG. liquid film (oil film). As a result, the lubricant 105 achieves a lubricating effect between the impregnated bearing 103 and the rotor 101 .

On the other hand, when the rotor 101 stops, the pumping action is lost and frictional heat is also lost, so the temperature of the lubricant 105 decreases and the lubricant 105 contracts. At this time, the impregnated bearing 103 sucks the lubricant 105 into a large number of gaps by the capillary phenomenon, and returns to the state where the lubricant 105 is held in a large number of gaps. By repeating such an operation, the impregnated bearing 103 can maintain the lubricating function without replenishing the lubricant 105 .

However, in the fan motor 22 using the impregnated bearing 103, if the impregnated amount of the lubricant 105 in the impregnated bearing 103 is less than an appropriate amount, the lubricant 105 may shrink excessively in a special environment such as a low temperature environment, for example. . FIG. 2C schematically shows the state of the impregnated bearing 103 when the lubricant 105 has shrunk excessively. In the example of FIG. 2C , since the lubricant 105 shrinks excessively, when the cross section of the impregnated bearing 103 is divided into the outer peripheral portion and the inner portion surrounded by the outer peripheral portion, the lubricant 105 exists only inside. In other words, the lubricant 105 does not exist near the surface (including the inner peripheral surface) of the impregnated bearing 103 , but the contracted lubricant 105 exists in a portion (inside) away from the surface of the impregnated bearing 103 . In such a state, the lubricant 105 impregnated in the impregnated bearing 103 is difficult to ooze out to the surface of the impregnated bearing 103, and it is difficult to form a good layer of lubricant 105 (oil) on the surface (including the inner peripheral surface) of the impregnated bearing 103 . liquid film (oil film).

Therefore, if the fan motor 22 using the impregnated bearing 103 is driven in a state where the lubricant 105 is excessively shrunk in this way, a good liquid film composed of the lubricant 105 cannot be formed, and a gap between the impregnated bearing 103 and the shaft 225 may occur. Create friction. That is, if the shaft 225 moves while rubbing against the impregnated bearing 103 in a state where the impregnated bearing 103 and the shaft 225 are in direct contact without the lubricant 105, there is a possibility that abnormal noises such as sliding noises and vibrations may occur. or incur losses.

(2.6) Structure of fan control system

Next, the configuration of the fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 .

The fan control system 10 controls the fan motor 22 by providing electrical signals to the fan motor 22 . As shown in FIG. 1 , the fan control system 10 has a control unit 11 , a switching unit 12 and a voltage switching circuit 13 . In the present embodiment, as described above, the fan control system 10 has a microcontroller as its main configuration, and at least the functions of the control unit 11 and the switching unit 12 are realized by the microcontroller.

The control unit 11 selects a control mode from a plurality of control modes including the first mode and the second mode. The first mode is a control mode in which an electric signal is supplied to the fan motor 22 to operate the fan motor 22 at a first rotational speed. The second mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor 22 so that the fan motor 22 operates at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. The control unit 11 has a function (idling function) of selecting the second mode after the start of the fan motor 22 and before selecting the first mode.

That is, the control unit 11 has a function of selecting a control mode from a plurality of control modes, and operates to supply an electric signal corresponding to the selected control mode to the fan motor 22 . For example, when the control unit 11 selects the first mode, the control unit 11 provides an electric signal to the fan motor 22 to make the fan motor 22 operate at the first rotational speed. On the other hand, while the control unit 11 selects the second mode, the control unit 11 supplies an electric signal to the fan motor 22 to make the fan motor 22 operate at the second rotational speed. Furthermore, the controller 11 uses the idling function to select the second mode after the fan motor 22 is started and before the first mode is selected, thereby controlling the fan motor 22 so that the rotational speed of the fan motor 22 immediately after the start is kept low ( suppressed to the second speed).

In the present embodiment, the fan control system 10 applies a DC voltage as an electric signal to the fan motor 22 and controls the fan motor 22 by changing the magnitude of the DC voltage. That is, the electrical signal used in the control of the fan motor 22 is a DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 . Therefore, regarding the DC voltage applied as an electrical signal by the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 in the first mode and the DC voltage applied as an electrical signal by the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 in the second mode, the magnitude of the voltage different.

However, the fan control system 10 controls the fan motor 22 by providing an electrical signal to the fan motor 22 instead of directly determining the speed of the fan motor 22 . Furthermore, even if the fan motor 22 is supplied with the same electric signal (DC voltage), it takes time until the desired rotational speed is reached, and the rotational speed may vary due to individual differences of the fan motors 22, for example. Therefore, the fan control system 10 merely provides determined electrical signals to the fan motor 22 in each control mode so that the fan motor 22 ideally operates at a desired rotational speed. In other words, the control unit 11 switches the electric signal supplied to the fan motor 22 according to the control mode so as to supply the electric signal determined for each control mode to the fan motor 22 .

In this embodiment, basically, the fan motor 22 operates at a rotation speed and torque proportional to the magnitude of the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22, so the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 can be regarded as the same as that of the fan motor. 22 is an equivalent value for the RPM. Therefore, the DC voltage (first voltage V1) applied by the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 in the first mode is higher than the DC voltage (second voltage V2) applied by the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 in the second mode. (V1>V2).

In short, the first mode is always a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor 22 to operate the fan motor 22 at the first rotational speed, and the rotational speed of the fan motor 22 in the first mode is not necessarily the first rotational speed. Therefore, in the first mode, the fan control system 10 supplies the fan motor 22 with an electric signal set to make the fan motor 22 ideally operate at the first rotational speed, and the electric signal (DC voltage) at this time is defined as "the second A voltage V1".

Likewise, the second mode is always a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor 22 to operate the fan motor 22 at the second rotational speed, and the rotational speed of the fan motor 22 in the second mode is not necessarily the second rotational speed. Therefore, in the second mode, the fan control system 10 supplies the fan motor 22 with an electric signal set to make the fan motor 22 ideally operate at the second rotational speed, and the electric signal (DC voltage) at this time is defined as "the first Second voltage V2".

In this embodiment, the first voltage V1 is the rated voltage of the fan motor 22 . Therefore, the fan motor 22 operates at a rated rotation speed when the first voltage V1 is applied. As an example, the first voltage V1 is determined within the range of 6.0 [V] to 10.0 [V], and the second voltage V2 is determined within the range of 3.0 [V] to 5.0 [V]. Furthermore, as an example, it is assumed that the rotation speed of the fan motor 22 when the first voltage V1 is applied is not less than 7000 [rpm] and not more than 10000 [rpm]. In contrast, as an example, it is assumed that the rotation speed of the fan motor 22 when the second voltage V2 is applied is not less than 3500 [rpm] and not more than 5000 [rpm].

In addition, the control unit 11 selects the second mode after the fan motor 22 starts up and before the first mode is selected by using the idle function, and thus switches from the second mode to the first mode at a certain switching timing. That is to say, according to the idling function of the control unit 11, after the fan motor 22 is started, the control unit 11 first selects the second mode as the control mode, and then, at a certain switching time, switches the selected control mode from the second mode to the second mode. First mode switch. Here, the timing of switching from the second mode to the first mode is determined based on satisfying a determination condition described below. That is, the control unit 11 determines the switching timing based on satisfaction of the determination condition for starting the first mode. Here, the time when the determination condition is satisfied becomes the switching time.

In this embodiment, the determination conditions include time conditions. The time condition is a condition determined with respect to the elapsed time after the fan motor 22 is started. As an example, the elapse of a predetermined idle time (for example, several tens of seconds to several minutes) from the start time of the second mode is specified as the time condition. In this case, the control unit 11 determines that the time condition among the determination conditions is met when the idle time has elapsed after the second mode is selected and the fan motor 22 is started, and switches the control mode from the second mode to the first mode. In short, in the present embodiment, the determination condition for the control unit 11 to start the first mode in the idling function includes a time condition related to the elapsed time after the fan motor 22 is started.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the determination conditions include temperature conditions. The temperature condition is a condition determined with respect to the temperature of the dipped bearing 103 . As an example, it is determined as the temperature condition that the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 is equal to or higher than a predetermined idling temperature. In this case, the control unit 11 judges that the temperature condition in the determination condition is satisfied at the time when the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 rises to the idle temperature after the second mode is selected and the fan motor 22 is started, and the control mode is changed from the second mode to the second mode. Switch to first mode. In short, in the present embodiment, the determination condition for the control unit 11 to start the first mode in the idling function includes a temperature condition related to the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 .

The temperature of impregnated bearing 103 is detected by first temperature sensor 221 of fan motor 22 . Therefore, the control unit 11 receives the detection result of the first temperature sensor 221 of the fan motor 22 and judges the temperature condition based on the detection result. That is, if the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 221 is equal to or higher than the idle temperature, the control unit 11 determines that the temperature condition is satisfied. In addition, the elapsed time after the start of the fan motor 22 is measured, for example, by a timer or the like included in the fan control system 10 .

In this embodiment, as an example, the control unit 11 takes the logical OR of the above-mentioned time condition and temperature condition as a determination condition. That is, the control unit 11 judges that the determination condition is satisfied based on the satisfaction of any one of the time condition and the temperature condition.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing an electrical signal (DC voltage) supplied from the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 when the fan motor 22 is started. In FIG. 3 , the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents voltage. That is, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 changes as shown in FIG. 3 by the idling function of the control unit 11 .

In short, the control unit 11 selects the second mode after the start of the fan motor 22 and before selecting the first mode by the idling function. In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 selects the second mode at the time point t1 when the fan motor 22 starts to be energized to start the fan motor 22, and then switches from the second mode to the first mode at the time point t2 when the determination condition is satisfied. . That is, in FIG. 3 , the time point t1 is when the fan motor 22 is started, and the time point t2 is the switching time when either one of the time condition and the temperature condition is satisfied. Therefore, the control unit 11 selects the second mode during the period T2 from the time point t1 to the time point t2, and selects the first mode during the period T1 after the time point t2.

Therefore, during the period T2 in which the second mode is selected, the second voltage V2 is applied to the fan motor 22 so that the fan motor 22 operates at the second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. That is, during the period T2 immediately after the fan motor 22 is started, the second voltage V2 suppressed to be lower than the first voltage V1 serving as the rated voltage is applied to the fan motor 22, thereby suppressing the rotational speed of the fan motor 22 to be lower than the rated voltage. The rated speed is low.

On the other hand, during the period T1 when the first mode is selected, the first voltage V1 is applied to the fan motor 22 so that the fan motor 22 operates at the first rotational speed higher than the second rotational speed. That is, during the period T1 after the determination condition is satisfied, the fan motor 22 is gradually increased to the first rated rotational speed by applying the first rated voltage V1 to the fan motor 22 .

Here, in the present embodiment, the fan motor 22 is started in the second mode, so the second voltage V2 is equal to or higher than the minimum voltage (hereinafter referred to as “minimum start voltage”) V0 required to start the fan motor 22 . Therefore, the second voltage V2 applied to the fan motor 22 in the second mode is set within a range lower than the first voltage V1 and higher than the lowest starting voltage V0. That is, the fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment operates the fan motor 22 at a torque equal to or greater than the starting torque which is the minimum torque required to start the fan motor 22 in the second mode. . In the example of FIG. 3, the second voltage V2 is set to be higher than the lowest starting voltage V0.

The switching unit 12 switches between enabling and disabling the idle function of the control unit 11 (the function for selecting the second mode). The switching unit 12 disables the idle function based on at least environmental information on the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 . That is, in the present embodiment, the idling function of the control unit 11 is not always enabled, but can be disabled by the switching unit 12 . If the idling function is enabled, the control unit 11 selects the second mode after the start of the fan motor 22 and before selecting the first mode. On the other hand, if the idling function is disabled, the control unit 11 selects the first mode from the start of the fan motor 22 . That is, when the switching unit 12 disables the idle function, the control unit 11 does not select the second mode, but selects the first mode immediately after the fan motor 22 is started.

In particular, since the switching unit 12 disables the idle function based on the environmental information related to the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22, the second mode can be selected by enabling the idle function only when the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 satisfies a specific condition. . In the present embodiment, as an example, the specific condition for enabling the idling function is that the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 is equal to or lower than a threshold temperature Tth1 (15° C. as an example). Therefore, if the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 is higher than the threshold temperature Tth1 when the fan motor 22 is started, the switching unit 12 disables the idling function of the control unit 11, so that the control unit 11 selects the first mode immediately after the fan motor 22 is started. model.

The ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 is detected by the second temperature sensor 28 . Therefore, the switching unit 12 receives the detection result of the second temperature sensor 28, and determines whether the idle function is enabled or disabled based on the detection result. That is, when the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 28 is equal to or lower than the threshold temperature Tth1 when the fan motor 22 is activated, the switching unit 12 enables the idling function of the control unit 11 .

The voltage conversion circuit 13 converts the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 as an electric signal. The fan control system 10 according to this embodiment applies the first voltage V1 to the fan motor 22 in the first mode, and applies the second voltage V2 to the fan motor 22 in the second mode. Therefore, in the voltage conversion circuit 13 , voltage conversion is performed so that at least two-stage voltages of the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 can be output as the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 .

In this embodiment, as an example, the voltage conversion circuit 13 is realized by a dropper type power supply circuit such as a series regulator. Specifically, the voltage conversion circuit 13 switches the DC voltage to be applied to the fan motor 22 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 11 . Here, when the control unit 11 selects the first mode, the voltage conversion circuit 13 applies the first voltage V1 as a DC voltage to the fan motor 22, and when the control unit 11 selects the second mode, the voltage conversion circuit 13 applies the first voltage V1 to the fan motor 22. The second voltage V2 is applied as a DC voltage. Since the second voltage V2 is lower than the first voltage V1 as described above, the voltage conversion circuit 13 steps down the DC voltage at least when the second voltage V2 is applied.

(2.7) Operation of fan control system

Next, the operation of the fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 .

If the fan control system 10 is not energized (S1: No), the fan control system 10 does not start to operate, and the fan control system 10 starts to operate by energizing the fan control system 10 (S1: Yes).

When power is started on the fan control system 10 (S1: YES), the fan control system 10 first obtains the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 (S2). At this time, the fan control system 10 acquires the detection result of the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 from the second temperature sensor 28 . Then, the fan control system 10 determines whether to enable or disable the idle function of the control unit 11 based on the environmental information on the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 through the switching unit 12 ( S3 ).

If the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 is equal to or lower than the threshold temperature Tth1 (S3: YES), the switching unit 12 enables the idling function of the control unit 11 . Therefore, if the ambient temperature is below the threshold temperature Tth1 (S3: "Yes"), the fan control system 10 selects the second mode through the control unit 11 (S4), and applies the second voltage V2 to the fan motor 22 as an electric signal (DC voltage ) (S5). Then, the fan control system 10 judges whether the judgment condition is satisfied through the control unit 11 ( S6 ), and if the judgment condition is not satisfied ( S6 : “No”), continues to apply the second voltage V2 ( S5 ).

In this embodiment, the determination conditions include time conditions and temperature conditions. Therefore, for example, when a predetermined idling time elapses from the time when the second mode is selected and the fan motor 22 is started (time t1 in FIG. yes"). Alternatively, for example, if the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 rises to a predetermined idle temperature after the time when the second mode is selected and the fan motor 22 is started (time t1 in FIG. 3 ), the control unit 11 determines that The determination condition is satisfied (S6: "Yes").

When the determination condition is satisfied (S6: "Yes"), the fan control system 10 selects the first mode through the control unit 11 (S7), and applies the first voltage V1 to the fan motor 22 as an electric signal (DC voltage) (S8). Then, if the energization of the fan control system 10 has not ended (S9: "No"), the fan control system 10 continues to apply the first voltage V1 (S8).

When the energization of the fan control system 10 ends (S9: YES), the fan control system 10 ends a series of operations including the application of the DC voltage to the fan motor 22 .

The flowchart of FIG. 7 is merely an example of the operation of the fan control system 10 , and processing may be appropriately omitted or added, and the order of processing may be appropriately changed.

The fan control method according to this embodiment is embodied by a fan control system 10 . That is, the operation of the fan control system 10 described above corresponds to a fan control method. Therefore, the fan control method according to the present embodiment controls the fan motor 22 having the rotor 101 including the blades 104, the stator 102, and the impregnated bearing 103 impregnated with the lubricant 105, and the fan motor 2 is driven by the impregnated bearing 103. The rotor 101 is held rotatably. The fan control method is capable of selecting a control mode from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal (the first voltage V1 in the example of FIG. 3 ) to the fan motor 22 to operate the fan motor 22 at the first rotational speed. The second mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal (the second voltage V2 in the example of FIG. 3 ) to the fan motor 22 to operate the fan motor 22 at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. The fan control method includes idling processing for selecting the second mode in the period (period T2 in the example of FIG. 3 ) before the first mode is selected after the fan motor 22 is started (processing "S4" to "S8" in FIG. 7 ). .

In addition, in the present embodiment, the above-described fan control method can be embodied by a program in a microcontroller or the like. That is, the program according to this embodiment is a program for realizing the above-mentioned fan control method by one or more processors.

(3) Function

Next, the operation of the fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

First, in an environment of normal temperature (for example, 25° C.), when the fan motor 22 is started, a liquid film (oil film) made of lubricant 105 (oil) is formed on the surface (including the inner peripheral surface) of the impregnated bearing 103 (see FIG. 2B). Therefore, the lubricant 105 realizes the lubricating effect between the impregnated bearing 103 and the rotor 101, so even if the fan motor 22 is controlled in the first mode immediately after starting to operate at the first rotational speed, no particular problem occurs. . In the present embodiment, when the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 is higher than the threshold temperature Tth1 when the fan motor 22 is activated, the switching unit 12 disables the idle function. Therefore, in an environment of normal temperature (for example, 25° C.), the fan control system 10 controls the fan motor 22 in the first mode immediately after the fan motor 22 is started, so that the fan motor 22 operates at the first rotational speed.

On the other hand, if the impregnated amount of lubricant 105 in impregnated bearing 103 is less than an appropriate amount, it is difficult to form a good surface of impregnated bearing 103 made of lubricant 105 in a special environment such as a low temperature environment. Liquid film (see Figure 2C). In such a situation where the lubricant 105 shrinks excessively, the switching unit 12 of the fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment enables the idling function of the control unit 11 .

Furthermore, according to the idling function of the control unit 11, the second mode is selected after the fan motor 22 is started and before the first mode is selected. Therefore, before the fan motor 22 operates at the first rotational speed, the fan motor 22 operates at the second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. Therefore, it is possible to operate the fan motor 22 with the rotation speed of the fan motor 22 kept low immediately after the fan motor 22 is started. Heated by frictional heat, etc. When the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 rises, the lubricant 105 expands and the excessive shrinkage of the lubricant 105 is relieved, so the lubricant 105 impregnated in the impregnated bearing 103 seeps out to the surface of the impregnated bearing 103, forming a lubricant on the surface of the impregnated bearing 103. 105 constitutes a good liquid film.

Here, in the second mode, the rotation speed of the fan motor 22 is suppressed low, so even in the state where the lubricant 105 is excessively contracted, it is difficult to generate "slip" that the shaft 225 moves while rubbing against the impregnated bearing 103 caused problems. That is, in the second mode, even if slippage occurs, the rotation speed of fan motor 22 is suppressed to be lower than the first rotation speed, so problems such as slippage noise, vibration, or loss are less likely to occur. As a result, according to the fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment, problems such as abnormal noise due to shrinkage of the lubricant 105 are less likely to occur.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the fan motor 22 is used as an air blower for generating an air flow for discharging the active ingredient in the active ingredient generating system 1 , and the amount of active ingredient generated is also suppressed in the second mode. That is to say, the fan motor 22 is used as an air blower for discharging active ingredients in the active ingredient generating system 1, rather than for cooling or the like, but even in the active ingredient generating system 1 itself, it is The active ingredient will not be fully produced. In particular, in the present embodiment, the liquid supply unit 24 of the active ingredient generation system 1 supplies the liquid by generating dew condensation water on the discharge electrode 211, so it takes several tens of seconds to several minutes after startup depending on the environment and the like. Before the time, the active ingredient will not be produced in sufficient quantity. The period during which the fan control system 10 controls the fan motor 22 in the second mode at least partially overlaps with the period immediately after the activation of the active component generation system 1 in which the production amount of the active component is suppressed.

In short, in the present embodiment, the fan motor 22 is used as a blower for generating an air flow for discharging the active component in the active component generating system 1 including the discharge unit 21 for generating the active component. During the period when the second mode is selected in the idling function, the discharge unit 21 generates an amount of active components per unit time that is smaller than that during the period when the first mode is selected. Therefore, according to the fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the fan motor 22 can be suppressed to be low by using the period when the amount of active components produced is small, and it is difficult to generate abnormal noise due to the contraction of the lubricant 105 . question.

(4) Variations

Embodiment 1 is only one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Embodiment 1 can be changed in various ways depending on the design and the like as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. In addition, the drawings referred to in the present disclosure are all schematic diagrams, and the respective ratios of sizes and thicknesses of components in the drawings do not necessarily reflect actual dimensional ratios. Modifications of Embodiment 1 are listed below. Modification examples described below can be applied in combination as appropriate.

The same functions as those of the fan control system 10 according to Embodiment 1 can also be embodied by a fan control method, a (computer) program, a non-transitory recording medium on which the program is recorded, or the like.

The DC voltage (second voltage V2) applied to the fan motor 22 in the second mode may be set within a range lower than the first voltage V1 and equal to or higher than the minimum starting voltage V0, and is not limited to being higher than the minimum starting voltage V0. voltage. Here, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 in the second mode is set so that the rotational speed of the fan motor 22 in the second mode is suppressed so that slipping noise is hardly generated even in a state where the lubricant 105 is excessively contracted. The speed of the problem such as abnormal sound, vibration or loss. For example, the second voltage V2 may be the same value as the lowest starting voltage V0.

In addition, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 in the second mode may be changed while the control unit 11 selects the second mode, instead of being a constant value (fixed value). For example, as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B , the DC voltage may also vary during the period T2 when the second mode is selected. 8A and 8B are graphs showing an electric signal (DC voltage) supplied from the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 when the fan motor 22 is started. In FIGS. 8A and 8B , the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents voltage.

That is, in the modified example shown in FIG. 8A , according to the idling function of the control section 11, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 in the second mode increases with time from the voltage V2 at the time point t1 when the fan motor 22 starts. After a continuous rise. Then, at the time point t2 when the determination condition is satisfied, the mode is switched from the second mode to the first mode, so the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 is switched to the first voltage V1.

In the modified example shown in FIG. 8B , according to the idling function of the control section 11, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 in the second mode increases with time from the voltage V2 at the time point t1 when the fan motor 22 is started. Step up (discretely) up. That is, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 is switched discontinuously from the voltage V2 to the voltage V4 at the time point t3 before reaching the time point t2 at which the determination condition is satisfied. Then, at a time point t2 when the determination condition is satisfied, the second mode is switched to the first mode, so the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 is switched to the first voltage V1.

In addition, the first voltage V1 applied to the fan motor 22 in the first mode may be set within a range higher than the second voltage V2 and is not limited to the rated voltage of the fan motor 22 .

The fan control system 10 of the present disclosure includes a computer system. A computer system has a processor and a memory as hardware as its main structure. The functions as the fan control system 10 in the present disclosure are realized by the processor executing the program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, provided via an electrical communication line, or recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, optical disk, or hard disk drive that the computer system can read. A processor of a computer system is composed of one or more electronic circuits including semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) or large scale integrated circuits (LSIs). Integrated circuits such as IC or LSI mentioned here are called in different ways according to the degree of integration, including system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration: Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration: Very Large Scale Integration) integrated circuits) integrated circuits. In addition, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array: Field Programmable Gate Array) that is programmed after the LSI is manufactured, or a logic device capable of reconfiguring the bonding relationship inside the LSI or reconfiguring the circuit division inside the LSI can also be used. for the processor. Multiple electronic circuits can be integrated on one chip, or distributed on multiple chips. A plurality of chips may be integrated in one device, or dispersed in a plurality of devices. A computer system as used herein includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Thus, with respect to a microcontroller, one or more electronic circuits including semiconductor integrated circuits or large scale integrated circuits are constituted.

In addition, it is not a necessary structure for the fan control system 10 to integrate at least a part of the functions of the fan control system 10 into one housing. The structural elements of the fan control system 10 may also be dispersedly arranged in a plurality of casings. On the contrary, all functions of the fan control system 10 can also be integrated in one housing.

The application of the active ingredient generation system 1 is not limited to vehicle use, and it can also be used in refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, air conditioners, fans, air cleaners, humidifiers, or beauty instruments used in houses or offices, etc. Active ingredient production system 1.

In addition, the fan motor 22 does not necessarily have a DC (direct current) brushless motor as its main structure, and the fan motor 22 may also be a brushed DC (direct current) motor, or an AC (alternating current) motor that operates by applying an alternating current voltage, for example. ) Motor etc. When the fan motor 22 is mainly composed of an AC motor, the electrical signal provided by the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 is not a DC voltage but an AC voltage. Therefore, the fan control system 10 can also control the fan motor 22 by changing the amplitude, frequency, or phase of the AC voltage as an electric signal.

In addition, the fan control system 10 may also provide the electric signal to the fan motor 22 separately from the electric power used to drive the fan motor 22 . In this case, the electric signal is, for example, a signal for communication that transmits information by changing (modulating) the amplitude, frequency, or phase of a carrier wave, and the signal is controlled from the fan by an appropriate communication method such as wired communication or wireless communication. System 10 sends to fan motor 22 .

In addition, the determination condition for the control unit 11 to start the first mode during the idling function may not include both the time condition and the temperature condition. That is, the determination conditions may include only time conditions or only temperature conditions. When the determination condition includes only the time condition, the control unit 11 starts the first mode when the time condition is satisfied regardless of the temperature of the submerged bearing 103 . When the determination condition includes only the temperature condition, the control unit 11 starts the first mode when the temperature condition is satisfied regardless of the elapsed time after the fan motor 22 is started.

In addition, the control unit 11 may take the logical product of the time condition and the temperature condition as the determination condition. In this case, the control unit 11 judges that the determination condition is satisfied by satisfying both the time condition and the temperature condition.

In addition, the first temperature sensor 221 is not an essential structure of the fan system 100 and can be appropriately omitted. Likewise, the second temperature sensor 28 is not an essential component of the active ingredient generation system 1 and can be appropriately omitted.

In addition, the first temperature sensor 221 is not limited to a configuration that detects the temperature of the shaft 225 or the temperature of the inner space of the cylindrical portion 224 . For example, the first temperature sensor 221 may also be housed in the housing 223 , and indirectly detects the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 by detecting the temperature in the housing 223 . Alternatively, the first temperature sensor 221 can also directly detect the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 , for example.

In addition, the second temperature sensor 28 is not limited to a structure that detects the temperature of the circuit board 230 or the temperature of the internal space of the housing 3 . For example, the second temperature sensor 28 may also be provided separately from the active ingredient generation system 1 to indirectly detect the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 by detecting the temperature outside the casing 3 . Alternatively, for example, the second temperature sensor 28 may also directly detect the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 by being installed on the fan motor 22 .

In addition, one temperature sensor can also be shared by the first temperature sensor 221 and the second temperature sensor 28 . That is, for example, it is also possible to replace the first temperature sensor 221 and the second temperature sensor with one temperature sensor by detecting both the temperature of the impregnated bearing 103 and the ambient temperature of the fan motor 22 with one temperature sensor mounted on the circuit board 230. sensor 28.

In addition, the switching timing from the second mode to the first mode is not limited to the timing when the determination condition is satisfied, and may be, for example, after a certain period of time has elapsed since the determination condition is satisfied. In this case, the first mode can be started after a certain period of time has elapsed since the determination condition is satisfied, in other words, a time lag can be given from when the determination condition is satisfied to when the first mode is actually started.

In addition, the voltage converting circuit 13 is not limited to a dropper type power supply circuit such as a series regulator, and may be realized by a switching type power supply circuit such as a step-down chopper circuit, for example.

In addition, the discharge electrode 211 and the counter electrode 212 are not limited to a titanium alloy (Ti alloy), and copper alloys such as a copper-tungsten alloy (Cu-W alloy) may be used as an example. In addition, the discharge electrode 211 is not limited to a tapered shape, and may have a raised shape, for example.

In addition, the high voltage applied from the driving circuit 23 to the discharge part 21 is not limited to about 6.0 kV, and is appropriately set according to the shape of the discharge electrode 211 and the opposite electrode 212, or the distance between the discharge electrode 211 and the opposite electrode 212, etc. Certainly.

In addition, the fixing structure of the inner member 2 is not limited to the structure demonstrated in Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. For example, the fixing of the circuit board 230 to the fixing part 61 is not limited to the structure realized by using fasteners such as screws 71 and nuts 72 , and may also be realized by, for example, riveting, bonding, or snap fitting. Bonding includes bonding using an adhesive, an adhesive tape, or the like.

In addition, the liquid supply part 24 is not an essential structure of the active ingredient generation system 1, and can also be omitted suitably. In this case, discharge unit 21 generates active components such as negative ions by discharge (full path breakdown discharge or partial breakdown discharge) generated between discharge electrode 211 and counter electrode 212 .

In addition, the liquid supply part 24 is not limited to the structure which cools the discharge electrode 211 and generate|occur|produces dew condensation water on the discharge electrode 211 like Embodiment 1. The liquid supply unit 24 may be configured to supply liquid from a tank to the discharge electrode 211 using a capillary phenomenon or a supply mechanism such as a pump, for example. In addition, the liquid is not limited to water (including dew condensation water), and liquids other than water may be used.

In addition, the drive circuit 23 may be configured to apply a high voltage between the discharge electrode 211 and the opposite electrode 212 using the discharge electrode 211 as a positive electrode and the opposite electrode 212 as a negative electrode (ground). And, as long as a potential difference (voltage) is generated between the discharge electrode 211 and the opposite electrode 212, the drive circuit 23 may also use the electrode (positive electrode) on the high potential side as the ground, and the electrode (negative electrode) on the low potential side ) as a negative potential to apply a negative voltage to the discharge unit 21 .

In addition, in the comparison between two values, "above" includes both the case where the two values are equal and the case where one of the two values exceeds the other. However, it is not limited to this, and the "more than" mentioned here may be synonymous with "greater than" which only includes the case where one of the binary values exceeds the other. That is, it is possible to arbitrarily change whether or not to include the case where the two values are equal according to the setting of the threshold value, so there is no technical difference in "above" or "greater than". Likewise, "less than" may also be synonymous with "below".

(Embodiment 2)

The fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment is different from the fan control system 10 according to the first embodiment in that the plurality of control modes selectable by the control unit 11 include the third mode. Hereinafter, common reference numerals are assigned to the same configurations as those in Embodiment 1, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

In the third mode, an electric signal is supplied to the fan motor 22 so that the fan motor 22 operates at a third rotational speed higher than the second rotational speed and with a torque equal to or greater than the starting torque which is the minimum torque required to start the fan motor 22. control mode. The control unit 11 has a function of selecting the third mode after the start of the fan motor 22 and before selecting the second mode (hereinafter referred to as "start function"). In short, the control unit 11 sequentially selects the third mode and the second mode after the fan motor 22 is started and before the first mode is selected through the activation function, so that the switching from the third mode to the second mode is performed at a certain switching timing. switch. That is to say, according to the starting function of the control unit 11, after the fan motor 22 is started, the control unit 11 first selects the third mode as the control mode, and then switches the selected control mode from the third mode at a certain switching time. to the second mode. Here, as an example, the switching time from the third mode to the second mode is set to a time when a predetermined activation time (for example, several tens of milliseconds to several seconds) has elapsed since the start time of the third mode.

The third mode is a control mode in which an electric signal to operate the fan motor 22 at the third rotational speed is always supplied to the fan motor 22, and the rotational speed of the fan motor 22 in the third mode is not necessarily the third rotational speed. Therefore, in the third mode, the fan control system 10 provides the fan motor 22 with an electric signal set to make the fan motor 22 ideally operate at the third rotational speed, and the electric signal (DC voltage) at this time is defined as "the third Voltage V3".

In the present embodiment, the third voltage V3 is higher than the second voltage V2 applied to the fan motor 22 in the second mode and lower than the first voltage V1 applied to the fan motor 22 in the first mode.

That is, according to the fan control system 10 according to the present embodiment, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 changes as shown in FIG. 9 . FIG. 9 is a graph showing an electric signal (DC voltage) supplied from the fan control system 10 to the fan motor 22 when the fan motor 22 is started. In FIG. 9 , the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents voltage.

In short, the control unit 11 first selects the third mode when the fan motor 22 is started using the start function. In this embodiment, the control unit 11 selects the third mode at the time point t0 when the fan motor 22 starts to be energized to start the fan motor 22, and then switches from the third mode to the second mode at the time point t1 when the start-up time has elapsed. model. That is, in FIG. 9 , the time point t0 is when the fan motor 22 is activated, and the time point t1 is the time point when the activation time elapses from the time point t0 . Therefore, the control unit 11 selects the third mode during the period T3 from the time point t0 to the time point t1, and selects the second mode during the period T2 after the time point t1.

Therefore, during the period T1 when the third mode is selected, the third voltage V3 is applied to the fan motor 22 to start the fan motor 22 at the third rotation speed higher than the second rotation speed. That is, during the period T3 for starting the fan motor 22 , the fan motor 22 is easily started by applying the third voltage V3 higher than the second voltage V2 to the fan motor 22 .

On the other hand, during the period T2 when the second mode is selected, the second voltage V2 is applied to the fan motor 22 so that the fan motor 22 operates at the second rotational speed lower than the third rotational speed. That is, during a period T2 after the fan motor 22 is started, the second voltage V2 lower than the third voltage V3 is applied to the fan motor 22 , whereby the rotation speed of the fan motor 22 is suppressed to be lower than the rotation speed at startup. Subsequent operations are the same as those of the fan control system 10 according to the first embodiment.

Here, in this embodiment, since the fan motor 22 is started in the third mode, the third voltage V3 is equal to or higher than the minimum starting voltage V0 required to start the fan motor 22 . On the other hand, in the second mode, it is sufficient to maintain the rotation of the fan motor 22 so that the started fan motor 22 does not stop. Therefore, the second voltage V2 is the minimum voltage required to maintain the rotation of the fan motor 22 that has been started. (hereinafter referred to as "minimum maintenance voltage") V5 or more. That is, the minimum sustain voltage V5 is a voltage lower than the minimum start-up voltage V0. If the DC voltage applied to the activated fan motor 22 is greater than or equal to the minimum maintenance voltage V5, the fan motor 22 continues to rotate, and if it is lower than the minimum maintenance voltage V5, the fan motor 22 stops.

In the present embodiment, since the fan motor 22 is activated in the third mode, the second voltage V2 is set within a range lower than the minimum activation voltage V0 and equal to or greater than the minimum maintenance voltage V5. In other words, in the second mode, the fan motor is operated with a torque equal to or higher than the maintenance torque, which is the minimum required to maintain the rotation of the rotor 101 in the fan motor 22 after startup, which is smaller than the startup torque. torque. In the example of FIG. 9 , the second voltage V2 is set to be lower than the lowest starting voltage V0 and higher than the lowest sustaining voltage V5 .

As a modified example of Embodiment 2, as shown in FIG. 10 , the third voltage applied to the fan motor 22 in the third mode may be the same value as the first voltage V1 applied to the fan motor 22 in the first mode. . That is, in this modified example, the electric signal supplied to the fan motor 22 is the same in the first mode and the third mode. In this case, when the fan motor 22 is started, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 is the first voltage V1 as the rated voltage in the third mode, drops to the second voltage V2 in the second mode, and thereafter in the second mode. In a mode, it returns to the first voltage V1. In this modified example, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 may be switched in two stages.

In addition, as another modified example of the second embodiment, the DC voltage applied to the fan motor 22 in the third mode may be changed while the control unit 11 selects the third mode instead of being a constant value (fixed value).

In addition, in Embodiment 2, the DC voltage (second voltage V2 ) applied to the fan motor 22 in the second mode may be equal to or higher than the minimum starting voltage V0 .

The various configurations (including modified examples) described in Embodiment 2 can be combined with the various configurations (including modified examples) described in Embodiment 1 as appropriate.

(Summarize)

As described above, the fan control system (10) according to the first aspect is a fan control system (10) that controls a fan motor (22). The fan motor (22) has a rotor (101) including blades (104), a stator (102) and an impregnated bearing (103) impregnated with a lubricant (105), and the fan motor (22) connects the rotor to the rotor through the impregnated bearing (103). (101) Hold in a rotatable manner. A fan control system (10) includes a control unit (11) that selects a control mode from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor (22) to make the fan motor (22) operate at a first rotational speed. The second mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor (22) to operate the fan motor (22) at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. The control unit (11) has a function of selecting the second mode after the start of the fan motor (22) and before selecting the first mode.

According to this aspect, the second mode is selected by the function of the control unit (11) after the fan motor (22) is activated and before the first mode is selected. Therefore, before the fan motor (22) operates at the first rotational speed, the fan motor (22) operates at the second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. Therefore, even in a special environment such as a low-temperature environment, the impregnated bearing (103) is heated while the fan motor (22) is operating at the second rotational speed, so that abnormalities due to shrinkage of the lubricant (105) are less likely to occur. Sound and other issues.

In the fan control system (10) according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the plurality of control modes include the third mode. The third mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor (22) so that the fan motor (22) operates at a third rotational speed higher than the second rotational speed and with a torque equal to or greater than the starting torque, The starting torque is the minimum torque required to start the fan motor (22). The control unit (11) also has a function of selecting the third mode after the start of the fan motor (22) and before selecting the second mode.

According to this aspect, starting of the fan motor (22) becomes easy.

In the fan control system (10) according to the third aspect, in the second aspect, in the second mode, the fan motor (22) is operated with a torque equal to or greater than a maintenance torque less than Starting torque and is the minimum torque required for the rotor (101) in the fan motor (22) to maintain rotation after starting.

According to this aspect, in the second mode, the torque of the fan motor (22) can be reduced to be smaller than the starting torque, so that problems such as abnormal noise caused by shrinkage of the lubricant (105) are less likely to occur.

In the fan control system (10) according to the fourth aspect, in the second aspect or the third aspect, the electric signal supplied to the fan motor (22) is the same in the first mode and the third mode.

According to this aspect, the circuit configuration can be simplified compared to the case where different electric signals are used in the first mode and the third mode.

In the fan control system (10) according to the fifth aspect, in the first aspect or the second aspect, in the second mode, the fan motor (22) is operated with a torque equal to or greater than the starting torque, the The starting torque is the minimum torque required to start the fan motor (22).

According to this aspect, even in the second mode, it is easy to start the fan motor (22).

In the fan control system (10) according to the sixth aspect, in any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, the determination condition for the control unit (11) to start the first mode includes the same as the fan motor (22 ) time condition related to the elapsed time after startup.

According to this aspect, switching from the second mode to the first mode can be realized with a simple configuration such as a timer.

In the fan control system (10) according to the seventh aspect, in any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, the determination condition for the control unit (11) to start the first mode includes the same as the submerged bearing (103 ) temperature dependent temperature conditions.

According to this aspect, switching from the second mode to the first mode can be realized based on the temperature of the impregnated bearing (103) instead of a certain period of time, and the anti-interference becomes stronger.

In any one of the first to seventh aspects, the fan control system (10) according to the eighth aspect further includes a switching unit (12). The switching unit (12) switches between enabling and disabling the function of the control unit (11) for selecting the second mode. The switching unit (12) disables a function of selecting the second mode based on at least environmental information about the ambient temperature of the fan motor (22).

According to this aspect, for example, when the ambient temperature of the fan motor (22) is sufficiently high, the function of selecting the second mode is disabled, and the startability of the fan motor (22) can be improved. .

In the fan control system (10) according to the ninth aspect, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the electric signal is a DC voltage applied to the fan motor (22).

According to this aspect, the control of the fan motor (22) becomes simple.

In the fan control system (10) according to the tenth aspect, in any one of the first aspect to the ninth aspect, the fan motor (22) is controlled by an active component generating system including a discharge unit that generates active components. It is used as a blower unit that generates an air flow for discharging active ingredients. During the period when the second mode is selected, the amount of the active component produced by the discharge unit per unit time is smaller than that during the period when the first mode is selected.

According to this aspect, when the fan motor (22) is activated, the rotation speed of the fan motor (22) can be suppressed low in the second mode, and the influence on the generation of the active ingredient can be suppressed to be small.

A fan system according to an eleventh aspect includes the fan control system (10) and the fan motor (22) according to any one of the first aspect to the tenth aspect.

According to this aspect, even in a special environment such as a low temperature environment, the impregnated bearing (103) is heated while the fan motor (22) is operating at the second rotational speed, so that the shrinkage of the lubricant (105) hardly occurs. abnormal noise etc.

The active component generating system according to the twelfth aspect includes the fan system according to the eleventh aspect and a discharge unit for generating an active component. A fan motor (22) generates an air flow for expelling active ingredients.

According to this aspect, even in a special environment such as a low temperature environment, the impregnated bearing (103) is heated while the fan motor (22) is operating at the second rotational speed, so that the shrinkage of the lubricant (105) hardly occurs. abnormal noise etc.

A fan control method according to a thirteenth aspect is a fan control method for controlling a fan motor (22), and a control mode can be selected from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode. The fan motor (22) has a rotor (101) including blades (104), a stator (102) and an impregnated bearing (103) impregnated with a lubricant (105), and the fan motor (22) connects the rotor to the rotor through the impregnated bearing (103). (101) Hold in a rotatable manner. The first mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor (22) to make the fan motor (22) operate at a first rotational speed. The second mode is a control mode for supplying an electric signal to the fan motor (22) to operate the fan motor (22) at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed. The fan control method includes a process of selecting the second mode after the start of the fan motor (22) and before selecting the first mode.

According to this aspect, even in a special environment such as a low temperature environment, the impregnated bearing (103) is heated while the fan motor (22) is operating at the second rotational speed, so that the shrinkage of the lubricant (105) hardly occurs. abnormal noise etc.

The program according to the fourteenth aspect is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the fan control method according to the thirteenth aspect.

According to this aspect, even in a special environment such as a low temperature environment, the impregnated bearing (103) is heated while the fan motor (22) is operating at the second rotational speed, so that the shrinkage of the lubricant (105) hardly occurs. abnormal noise etc.

The configurations according to the second aspect to the tenth aspect are not essential configurations of the fan control system (10), and can be appropriately omitted.

Explanation of reference signs

10: fan control system; 11: control unit; 12: switching unit; 22: fan motor; 101: rotor; 102: stator; 103: impregnated bearing; 104: blade; 105: lubricant.

Claims (14)

1. A fan control system that controls a fan motor having a rotor including blades, a stator, and a impregnated bearing impregnated with a lubricant, the fan motor rotatably holding the rotor by the impregnated bearing,

the fan control system includes a control unit that selects a control mode from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode,

the first mode is a mode in which an electrical signal is supplied to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a first rotational speed,

the second mode is a mode in which an electric signal is supplied to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a second rotational speed, which is lower than the first rotational speed,

the control unit has a function of selecting the second mode during a period after the fan motor is started and before the first mode is selected.

2. The fan control system of claim 1,

the plurality of control modes include a third mode in which an electric signal is supplied to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a third rotational speed higher than the second rotational speed and at a torque equal to or higher than a starting torque which is a minimum torque required to start the fan motor,

the control unit further has a function of selecting the third mode during a period after the fan motor is started and before the second mode is selected.

3. The fan control system of claim 2,

in the second mode, the fan motor is operated at a torque equal to or greater than a holding torque that is smaller than the starting torque and is the lowest torque required to keep the rotor of the fan motor rotating after the starting.

4. The fan control system according to claim 2 or 3,

in the first mode and the third mode, the electrical signal provided to the fan motor is the same.

5. The fan control system of claim 1,

in the second mode, the fan motor is operated with a torque equal to or greater than a starting torque, which is the minimum torque required to start the fan motor.

6. The fan control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the determination condition for the control section to start the first mode includes a time condition related to an elapsed time after the fan motor is started.

7. The fan control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the determination condition for the control section to start the first mode includes a temperature condition related to a temperature of the impregnated bearing.

8. The fan control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

further comprising a switching unit that switches between enabling and disabling the function of the control unit that selects the second mode,

the switching portion disables the function of selecting the second mode based on at least environmental information related to an ambient temperature of the fan motor.

9. The fan control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the electrical signal is a dc voltage applied to the fan motor.

10. The fan control system according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the fan motor is used as a blowing part that generates an air flow for discharging the effective components in an effective component generating system including a discharging part that generates effective components,

during the period in which the second mode is selected, the amount of generation of the effective component per unit time by the discharge portion is smaller than that during the period in which the first mode is selected.

11. A fan system is provided with:

the fan control system according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and

the fan motor.

12. An active ingredient production system comprising:

the fan system of claim 11; and

a discharge portion which generates an effective component,

wherein the fan motor generates an air flow for discharging the effective components.

13. A fan control method for controlling a fan motor having a rotor including blades, a stator, and a impregnated bearing impregnated with a lubricant, the fan motor rotatably holding the rotor by the impregnated bearing,

the fan control method is capable of selecting a control mode from a plurality of control modes including a first mode and a second mode,

the first mode is a mode in which an electrical signal is supplied to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a first rotational speed,

the second mode is a mode in which an electric signal is supplied to the fan motor to operate the fan motor at a second rotational speed, which is lower than the first rotational speed,

the fan control method has a process of selecting the second mode during a period after the fan motor is started and before the first mode is selected.

14. A program for causing one or more processors to execute the fan control method according to claim 13.

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